In Defense of Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon: Separating Fact from Fiction - Casewinelife.com Order Wine Online

为凯默斯纳帕谷赤霞珠辩护:厘清事实与虚构

2024 年 Jan 10 日Michael Bozzelli

(更新日期:2025年7月10日)

Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 长期以来一直是精品葡萄酒界的常客,因其浓郁的风味和卓越的品质而备受赞誉。  在最近的一次采访中,瓦格纳家族的家长查克·瓦格纳(Chuck Wagner)将1990年份葡萄酒视为推动家族成功的关键。  然而,与许多成功产品一样,Caymus也并非没有受到批评。其中一个常见的指责是,该公司在酿酒过程中使用了Mega Purple和橡木成分,这在葡萄酒爱好者中引发了广泛讨论。本文旨在揭开这些说法的真相,并阐述Caymus长盛不衰的成功原因。

Mega Purple争议

针对Caymus最持久的指责之一,就是其酿酒过程中涉嫌使用Mega Purple。  批评者认为,Mega Purple可能会损害葡萄酒的纯正性,并掩盖葡萄本身的真实风味。 

Mega Purple是一种葡萄浓缩液。这意味着它并非传统意义上的化学或合成添加剂,而是直接由葡萄制成的产品。具体而言,它是通过浓缩特意酿酒葡萄(teinturier grapes)的汁液制成的,其中最著名的是 Rubired。特意酿酒葡萄非常独特,与大多数红皮清肉的红葡萄不同,它们的果皮和果肉都是红色的。这一特性使其能够酿制出颜色极深、色泽浓郁的葡萄汁,随后再通过真空蒸馏等工艺将其浓缩,制成Mega Purple。

Caymus始终否认在葡萄酒中使用Mega Purple。瓦格纳家族强调,他们致力于采用传统酿酒工艺,以展现果实的自然之美。他们认为,Caymus葡萄酒深邃浓郁的色泽,得益于细致入微的葡萄园管理以及对优质葡萄的坚持。

橡木成分与陈酿

另一个常见的批评是,人们认为Caymus过度依赖橡木成分,可能会掩盖葡萄本身的自然风味。虽然Caymus葡萄酒确实常在橡木桶中长时间陈酿,但酒庄表示,这是为了提升而非掩盖葡萄酒风味而做出的刻意选择。 说实话,任何在口感中体现出的橡木风味,充其量也只是三级风味。 

Caymus采用严格的酒桶筛选流程,使用法国和美国橡木桶来打造细致丰富的风味。其目标是让果香与橡木风味达到平衡,从而酿制出层次丰富的葡萄酒。

品质铸就成功

尽管存在种种争议,Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon的成功,很大程度上归功于其葡萄酒始终保持的卓越品质。瓦格纳家族对优质葡萄的坚持,以及对经久考验的酿酒技术的运用,为该品牌赢得了忠实的追随者。当你带着一瓶Caymus出现在某个场合时,每个人都会注意到。 Caymus让每一餐都变成了一场盛会,也让葡萄酒真正凸显了用餐的特殊性。 下次受邀时,不妨带上一瓶Kirkland Signature Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon,亲身体验其中的区别。尽管如此,你也不必担心会被要求坐在主人身边。 

Caymus在某些销售渠道的广泛存在,或许在一定程度上削弱了这款葡萄酒的声望,但其无可挑剔的品质却赢得了超越肤浅说辞的声誉,使Caymus成为纳帕谷赤霞珠葡萄酒的标杆。 

作者寄语: 我非常感谢这篇博客文章能成为Caymus爱好者眼中如此受欢迎且极具参考价值的资源。  

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评论 (7)

  • How does Caymus manage to make 200K+ cases of the “Napa” every year and it makes it “consistant” Read the label “Made and botteled by” on the current releases, fruit from all over Napa County, it’s got to have additives to “smooth out” the imperfections. No comment on the taste, just the methods.

    Dave Shaw
  • Caymus, from the start was and still is overpriced…. but hey we all need to make more to support our other interests right?

    craig
  • Luv all the wino comments.

    Valerie Lu
  • Jon Kidwell seems like a happy individual.

    Not Jon Kidwell
  • Where is your sponsorship declaration? You wouldn’t break the law. Would you?

    Jon Kidwell
  • I think the fact that Caymus partnered with NASCAR tells you all you need to know. It’s a wine for those who think they need something a step up from Yellowtail. They might enjoy a White Claw between bottles as a palate cleanser. Personally, I’d prefer a bottle of Kirkland Signature Napa Valley.

    Chris B
  • How can you say it’s polarizing and then say “ When you show up with a bottle of Caymus, everyone notices and appreciates it at a dinner party.”. If everyone appreciates it, then it’s not polarizing.

    Yves Maldonado

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